Posted by SINA FADARE, Lagos and DELE OGUNYEMI, Ibadan on
THE lingering political crisis in Oyo State yesterday reached another bloody dimension as the strong man of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, escaped death by the whiskers when his vehicle was attacked by gunmen suspected to be assassins.
THE lingering political crisis in Oyo State yesterday reached another bloody dimension as the strong man of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, escaped death by the whiskers when his vehicle was attacked by gunmen suspected to be assassins.
But one of his aides, Mr. Taofeek Daropale, was not lucky as he was shot dead by the attackers who Adedibu alleged were sponsored by the state government.
The government however said it was not aware of any assassination attempt on Alhaji Adedibu.
Daily Champion was told that the incident happened at about 3.00 p.m. shortly after Adedibu landed at Ibadan airport and was on his way to his Molete resident.
The alleged assassins numbering about five, shot at one of the vehicles on Adedibu's entourage believing that the politician was there. This was about five minutes after Adedibu left the airport.
Speaking to Daily Champion, Chief Adedibu said thatr he was only luckjy to have missed the assassins' bullets when their vehicle were sprayed with sporadic gun shots.
According to him, he was in the vehicle with Chief Yekini Adeojo, another prominent politician in Oyo State and his personal assistant when the assassins struck.
He added that one of his aides Mr. Daropale was not so lucky as the assassins' bullets sent him to his untimely death.
Adedibu explained that the deceased was one of the people who was at the airport to welcome him home but was unfortunate to have been shot dead Chief Adedibu who alleged that the assassination plot cannot be unconnected with the state government, "who have been trying all their possible means to kill me since the day myself and Ladoja fell apart."
Oyo State Police Command said through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Adedeji said that his command was yet to be briefed on the issue.
Daily Champion learnt that the Area Commander, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ibadan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Christopher Iro, led a team of police officers to the Molete residence of Chief Adedibu to assure him that the culprits would soon be brought to book.
The state government said it was not aware of the incident.
Speaking with Daily Champion on phone on the incident the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr. Adeola Oloko simply said: "I am not aware of the incident and I don't know whether or not anybody was attacked or shot."
It would be recalled that the lingering crises between Alhaji Adedibu and Governor Rashidi Ladoja had escalated in recent times which led the death of one of Adedibu's personal aides Alhaji Lateef Olaniyan who was also felled by the assassins bullets last month.
The incident led to the arerst of the five suspects including Alhaji Lawa (aka Tyson) whon confessed to have been working as a political thug to Governor Ladoja.
Apart this backdrop, Adedibu cried out that justice should be done as he had no confidence in the Oyo State police command because "they work in connivance with the state apparatus to silence Olaniyan."